Why do people fail the NCLEX?

[Yayamaya, RN]

I was wondering if anyone can comment on what they feel some of the main reasons are that students do not pass the NCLEX, (lack of,not understanding the questions, etc.)

[kocheli]

The main reason is not studying well.Lack of critical thinking,and lack of practice also affects a candidate to fail

[Ace587RN, RN]

some didnt prepare well, and some arent used to the questions. Also, dont forget there are some who have test anxiety.

[kgh31386, BSN, MSN, RN]

some may have never learned it in school...or just memorized for school and forgot it all. You could write an entire book on reasons why people fail.

[RNandRRT]

well, after almost a year of reading the posts here, it's pretty clear that all the blame lays with the NCSBN for administering too tough a test, nursing schools (all of them) for not preparing those who failed well enough, and all study materials for not providing the correct content to study for each individual.

[fiveofpeep]

haha funny one rn and rrt if you are being sarcastic :)

[kgh31386, BSN, MSN, RN]

lol let's hope that's sarcasm.

[*!*nurse*!*]

Here's my take on why people do not pass the NCLEX...and this is from my own personal experience as a nurse educator.

• Language Barrier
  
• Attended a mediocre nursing program: no overall the student is still responsible for independently making sure he or she puts in their study time...but if you experienced being a student in a program where the teachers were incompetent and did not engage their students critical thinking skills...then these students are more likely to become less successful in passing the NCLEX
  
• Cramming during the nursing program: I always warn my students, if you crammed for every single test you took during school....you will have a much harder time recalling facts during your tests. Cramming definitely does not help with retention.
  
• overall just a lack of discipline to study on a daily basis or no study game plan was established
  
• just an overall lack of critical thinking skills and the fact that the student never was accustomed to NCLEX style or application type questioning as opposed to knowledge based questioning
  
• too many distractors preventing adequate studying
  
• just reading nursing textbooks instead of practicing nclex style questioning
  
• waiting toooooo long to take the test. I always tell my students to strive to take their NCLEX within 3 months of graduation
  

[cincin1]

I will approach this question another way; why would someone pass the NCLEX? Because they have learned to think like a nurse, and they have learned to do it under great stress and pressure. This takes more practice for some, and I isn't at all based solely on intelligence.

[caliotter3]

Many people fail because they have not prepared well. Others fail because the test questions throw them. The test is not an easy test to predict. A person can be very well prepared, yet still fail. One has to be prepared for this possibility and be persistent in their efforts.

[Music in My Heart]

I think it's a combination of:

• Failure to sufficiently and/or properly prepare
  
• Inadequate admissions standards at some nursing schools
  
• Test anxiety
  

[cantwaitRN]

ANXIETY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!